Pulpit Rock, Portland

Pulpit Rock is a coastal feature at Portland Bill, the southern tip of the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. Intended to have the appearance of an open bible leaning on a pulpit,[1] Pulpit Rock was formed in the 1870s after a natural arch was cut away by quarrymen at Bill Quarry, and the leaning slab was added.[2] As a quarrying relic,[3] the rock is similar to that of Nicodemus Knob, another quarrying landmark on the island.

Pulpit Rock
from the northeast
from the southeast

Pulpit Rock has become a popular tourist attraction on the island and is often photographed.[4] Despite the danger, for many decades it has been a popular place for tombstoning.[5] Pulpit Rock is also a popular point for wrasse anglers. The British record Ballan wrasse was caught there in 1998 by Pete Hegg.[6]

The geological succession up from sea level is: Portland Cherty Series (up to the level of the neighbouring quarried platform), then Portland Freestone (the oolitic limestone quarried inland of Pulpit Rock), then a cap of thin-bedded limestones which are part of the basal Purbeck Formation.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Portland Bill". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  2. "Portland Bill: Exploring Portland by Geoff Kirby". Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  3. "Portland Bill - Geological Field Guide". Southampton.ac.uk. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  4. "Sea Gallery | Pulpit Rock, Portland, Dorset by Robin Mills ARPS; Fine Art Photography". Robinmillsphotography.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  5. YouTube (1 August 2009). "Cliff Jumping, Portland Bill: Extreme sport Tombstoning danger". YouTube. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  6. "Portlandbill.co.uk". Portlandbill.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  7. "West, Ian. M. 2008. The Isle of Portland: Portland Bill. Geology of the Wessex Coast". Retrieved 2 January 2009.

Media related to Pulpit Rock, Isle of Portland at Wikimedia Commons

50°30′51.3″N 2°27′34.1″W


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